Two Bills Drive

‘"The way Drew (Bledsoe) distributes the ball it looks good here," Ismail said. "They do some things here that fit my game well."’

‘I’ve grouped the Bills in limbo — with 22 other teams that are neither the best nor worst — because although they boosted their defense with the acquisitions of Takeo Spikes, Jeff Posey, Sam Adams and Izell Reese, there are now new questions about their offense, as Josh Reed and Bobby Shaw must make up for what Peerless Price, Jay Riemersma and Larry Centers contributed to the passing game.’

‘The Buffalo Bills have signed defensive tackle Sam Adams. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.’

Saturday March 29th, 1:00 pm at the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Boston MA. Don’t pass up a chance to meet the Buffalo Bills latest Hall of Fame inductee!

Well, here we are in the middle of the off-season, and already it rivals the excitement of last off-season, when Drew Bledsoe came aboard. Maybe the Takeo Spikes and Sam Adams acquisitions exceed the Bledsoe acquisition because they mean Buffalo is closer to repairing the defense and going deep into the playoffs.

”’I believe Eric is the No. 1 guy, period. Outside of that, I guess everything would be open to fair game,” Ismail said. ”It’s a good fit for myself and for the Bills. But this is just a visit. Hopefully, we’ll progress.”’

The Bills today announced that the team has officially signed DT Sam Adams.

“It was back and forth,” Buffalo Bills GM Tom Donahoe said. “Early, you thought it was going to go. Then you didn’t. And then you did.”

NFL talent evaluators long have felt Johnson has the tools to be a top passer. A 1995 fourth-round pick by Jacksonville, Johnson consistently has impressed with his arm strength and athleticism, plus his prototypical height (6-foot-4, 212 pounds). But he has struggled to find a comfortable situation, whether with Jacksonville, Buffalo or Tampa Bay.

‘"Being that I played down the road, my college ball in Syracuse and really haven’t been back up this way, I am very impressed. I’m impressed with some of the things I see; the organization and the way they are moving definitely seems like they are heading in the right direction."’

‘"Things are going great so far. For a team that I didn’t think that I would be visiting it’s been going good. I just saw Travis Henry and we spoke for a while. I think this is a great opportunity for me."’

‘Smith didn’t fully reveal if any other teams had been talking to him, but after his press conference he did say on local radio, with Dale Hellestrae, no less, one of the talk-show hosts there in Phoenix, that his people did talk to Kansas City and Buffalo.’

Running back Olandis Gary (Denver Broncos), wide receiver Qadry Ismail (Indianapolis Colts), and fullback Sam Gash (Baltimore Ravens) are all in Buffalo today to tour the facility and meet with the coaches. Gary has rushed for 1,614 yards in four NFL seasons. Ismail had 44 catches for 462 yards last year after recording a career-high 74 grabs for Baltimore in 2001. Gash is one of the top blocking fullbacks in the league and spent two of his 11 seasons with the Bills (1998-99).

Based on how active Buffalo has been this offseason, I don’t think there is any doubt that GM Tom Donahoe is positioning the Bills for a major playoff run this season. In fact, I feel so confident about this, I put $20 on the Bills to win it all (at 20-1 odds) at the Rio Suites casino/hotel in Las Vegas last weekend while I was there on vacation.

Quick, agile pass rusher who will suit up for his fourth team…signed by the Texans as an unrestricted free agent on 4/18/02…converted defensive end…has 84 career tackles and 40 special teams stops…played in seven games for Jacksonville and four games for Carolina last season…spent his first three campaigns in San Francisco…originally signed by the 49ers as an undrafted free agent on 5/2/97.